Container clamp



March 8, 1966 w. D. SEIBEI. 3,239,175

CONTAINER CLAMP Filed March 18, 1964 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 IN VEN TOR. W175? Q 55/554 March 8, 1966 w. D. SEIBEI. 3,239,175

CONTAINER CLAMP Filed March 18, 1964 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 l is j 1% 6/ O O 0 in" 0 WW I INVENTOR. 2 3; gaffflfl 55/554 my ww.

United States Patent 3,239,175 CONTAINER CLAMP Walter D. Seibel, Rte. 3, Caldwell, Idaho Filed Mar. 18, 1964, Ser. No. 352,753 2 Claims. (Cl. 248154) This invention relates generally to a container clamp and more particularly to a clamp for retaining cans, oil drums, barrels, and other similar structures in an upright or vertical position.

It is a primary consideration in the handling of cylindrical containers to maintain them in an upright or vertical position when it is not desired to empty the contents therefrom. A particular problem exists with garbage cans being overturned by domestic animals and the forces of nature. Oil drums and other similar containers, particularly when partially empty, also are easily turned over by various forces. It is, of course, desired to retain such objects in their normal upright positions, so that their contents will not be emptied or lost. Furthermore, overturning such containers may result in their being damaged and rendered unusable.

Prior art structures for supporting cylindrical containers do not contain simple locking mechanisms. While some prior art mechanisms do not provide positive locking action to a container, others include complex locking structures which are difiicult to manipulate. Furthermore, such prior articles do not provide for adjusta'bility in their structures for adaptation to various sizes of containers. Furthermore, these prior articles do not provide for rigid support to the ground while allowing circulation of air between and under the containers.

It is, therefore, a primary object of this invention to provide a container clamp which has positive locking action to an article held thereby.

It is another primary object of this invention to provide a container clamp which is simple in construction and in operation.

Another object of this invention is to provide a container clamp which is adjustable to various sizes of containers.

Still another object of this invention is to provide a container clamp which allows free circulation of air to all parts of the container.

It is another object of this invention to provide a container clamp which secures a container rigidly to the ground.

Another object of this invention is to provide a container clamp which is easily and quickly operated to provide the clamping action and to release a container therefrom.

These and other objects will be more fully realized from the novel structure of this invention which includes a base member disposed for connection to the ground, a resilient band secured at one portion to the base memher and slidably mounted at another portion thereof to the base member, and an actuation lever connected at one end of the band. A biasing member is connected between the other end of the band and the actuated lever for locking the lever in clamped position and tightening the band about a container.

The invention, however, will be more fully realized and understood from the following detailed description when taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings wherein:

FIGURE 1 is a side view of the invention shown in locked position and illustrating a container held therein in phantom lines;

FIGURE 2 is a top view of the invention shown in FIGURE 1;

FIGURE 3 is a top view of the invention showing the structure in unlocked position;

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FIGURE 4 is a top view of the invention shown in FIGURE 3;

FIGURE 5 is a sectional view taken along lines 5-5 ofdFIGURE 2 and illustrating one mounting structure; an

FIGURE 6 is a sectional view taken along lines 66 of FIGURE 2 and illustrating the locking structure associated with another mount.

Like reference numerals throughout the various views of the drawings designate the same or similar structures.

With reference to FIGURE 1, there is shown therein a side view of the invention in a locked position. A base member 10 supports a resilient band 12 by means of a movable mount 14 and fixed mounts 16 and 18. Each of mounts 14, 16 and 18, retain the band at different distances from the base member. That is, mount 14 holds band 12 in close relationship to the base member, mount 18 holds the band at a still further distance therefrom, and mount 16 holds the band at a still greater distance. These differences in position allow an end 20 of the band to be positioned at a greater distance from base than an end 22 thereof. This displacement provides for the simple locking action which will be hereafter more fully described.

Base member 10, as shown in FIGURE 2 is preferably formed in the shape of a T consisting of arms 24 and 26 to allow free circulation of air. Mount 14 includes a slot 28 for providing slidable movement with respect to base 10 on a bolt 30. An actuating lever 32 is pivotally mounted at one end thereof on end 20. Lever 32 includes a pedal portion 34 for providing the clamping and unclarnping action to the structure of the invention. A bolt 36 is secured to lever 32 at a mid point thereof and acts as a biasing member with respect thereto and with the end 22 by means of a spring 38. An angle 40 is connected to end 22 and loosely receives bolt 36 in a hole therein. Spring 38 acts on angle 40 to provide the biasing action of end 22 towards end 20 when lever 32 is rotated in a counterclockwise direction.

As shown in FIGURE 1, as lever 32 is pivoted about the end 20, the ends 20 and 22 will move away from one another. As lever 32 is pivoted from the unclamped position of band 12 as shown in FIGURES 3 and 4, to the clamped position, ends 20 and 22 will be forced toward one another and a maximum clamping action results when the lever is in line with bolt 36. However, as lever 32 is rotated still further in the direction of mount 16, spring 38 biases the lever to cause it to remain in such position until a force is directed to rotate the lever in a clockwise direction.

The position of the elements shown in FIGURE 3 is that of not providing a clamping action to a container. As shown therein, mount 14, is disposed with the slot 28 thereof in one extreme position with respect to bolt 30. Ends 20 and 22 of the band are disposed in spaced relationship to one another, since lever 32 is pivoted to allow bolt 36 to release tension on spring 38. Lever 32 is shown herein in broken section with the pedal 34 not shown to better illustrate the relative position thereof with bolt 36. This position is better illustrated in FIG- URE 4 wherein it can be seen that lever 32 is angularly disposed with respect to bolt 36 when the elements are in an unclamped position. As lever 32 is moved in a counterclockwise position direction, it can be seen that ends 20 and 22 are forced or biased towards one another until lever 32 is in alignment with bolt 36. Further counterclockwise rotation of the lever places it in engagement with an angle 42 on mount 16. This angle acts as a stopping means for the lever and includes a hole 44 which is disposed for alignment with a hole 46 in the lever when the lever is in an extreme counterclockwise position. When holes 44 and 46 are in alignment a lock, shown in phantom lines in FIGURE 1, may be inserted therein for restricting undesired unclamping of the mechanism. Since the lever 32 is rotated beyond a point of alignment with bolt 36 in its counterclockwise rotation, spring 38 acts to bias the lever against angle 42, thereby locking the mechanism in its clamping action. The entire structure is easily adaptable to various sizes of containers by the provision of mounting holes located at various positions in the base 10 and on the band 12. Holes 48 on arm 26 allow mount 16 to be moved therealong and holes 50 on arm 24 allow for mount 18 to be moved therealong. Since movement of mount 16 and 18 will reduce the required diameter of band 12, it is provided in two sections, 52 and 54. A plurality of holes are disposed in each section for alignment with one another such that the diameter of band 12 can be reduced by changing the relative positions of section 52 with respect to section 54. This structure is better illustrated in FIGURE 5 wherein it can be seen that section 52 can be moved with respect to section 54. FIG- URE 6 illustrates the relative position of lever 32 with respect to angle 42 and mount 16 in its locked position.

The operation of the novel structure of the present invention is as follows: When the elements are in the positions shown in FIGURES 3 and 4, the unclamped position, a container may be placed within the band 12 and onto the base 10. Lever 32 is rotated in a counterclockwise direction causing the bolt 36 and the spring 38 to exert a tension on end 22. As end 22 is moved towards end 20, mounting plate 14 is moved with respect to base from the position as shown in FIGURE 3 to the position as shown in FIGURE 2. When lever 32 is in line with bolt 36, maximum clamping action is produced by the band 12 on a container as lever 32 is rotated still further in the counterclockwise direction bolt 36 and spring 38 tend to force the lever towards plate 42. Since the lever cannot move beyond angle 42, it is locked thereby and biased to remain in such position until another force is exerted to direct it in a clockwise direction.

It can now be seen that the difference in the respective distances of ends 22 and from plate 10 causes this locking action to be more effective. If ends 20 and 22 were the same distance from base 10, the biasing action of lever 32 and bolt 36 and spring 38 would not be as effective. That is, if the ends were disposed at the same distance from the base, lever 32 could not be moved substantially beyond a line of alignment with bolt 36 and positive biasing would not result.

The principles of the invention explained in connection with the specific exemplification thereon will suggest many other applications and modifications of the same. It is accordingly desired that, in construing the breadth of the appended claims they shall not be limited to the specific details shown and described in connection with the exemplification thereof.

What is claimed is:

1. A can holder comprising a T-shaped base member for supporting said can, a resilient band having a portion thereof rigidly secured to said base and another portion slidably mounted on said base, a lever pivotally mounted at one end thereof to one end of said band, a biasing member connected between the other end of said band and the other end of said lever, said lever being movable to bias the ends of said band toward one another, and means mounted on said base member for stopping the lever at a point in the movement thereof when the ends of said band are toward one another.

2. A can holder comprising a T-shaped base member for supporting said can, a resilient band having a portion thereof rigidly secured to said base and another portion thereof slidably mounted at another end thereof to one end of said band, means for biasing the other end of said lever toward the other end of said band, said lever being movable to bias the ends of said band toward one another, and means mounted on said base member for stopping the lever at a point in the movement thereof when the ends of said band are toward one another.

References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS 625,573 5/1899 Leavitt 217-94 664,352 12/ 1900 Gibbs 211-4 1,288,839 12/1918 Conrad et al 248-313 1,300,533 4/1919 Wessinger 248-129 1,382,115 6/ 1921 Ohme 248-149 1,754,714 4/ 1930 Gundrup 248-310 1,902,423 3/1933 Seltzer 248-149 X 2,319,762 5/ 1943 Bruning et a1. 24-270 2,453,492 11/1948 Carter 24-270 2,513,631 7/1950 Erikson 248-154 2,541,434 2/1951 Nelson et al. 248-210 2,679,996 6/1954 Rowe et al. 248-149 2,911,180 11/1959 Dunagan et al. 248-346 CLAUDE A. LE ROY, Primary Examiner. 

1. A CAN HOLDER COMPRISING A T-SHAPED BASE MEMBER FOR SUPPORTING SAID CAN, A RESILIENT BAND HAVING A PORTION THEREOF RIGIDLY SECURED TO SAID BASE AND ANOTHER PORTION SLIDABLY MOUNTED ON SAID BASE, A LEVER PIVOTALLY MOUNTED AT ONE END THEREOF TO ONE END OF SAID BAND, A BIASING MEMBER CONNECTED BETWEEN THE OTHER END OF SAID BAND AND THE OTHER END OF SAID LEVER, SAID LEVER BEING MOVABLE TO BIAS THE ENDS OF SAID BAND TOWARD ONE ANOTHER, AND MEANS MOUNTED ON SAID BASE MEMBER FOR STOPPING THE LEVER AT A POINT IN THE MOVEMENT THEREOF WHEN THE ENDS OF SAID BAND ARE TOWARD ONE ANOTHER. 